New Technical Ceramics from Spark Plug Technology

Since the founding of NTK Technical Ceramics in 1936, NTK has primarily researched and developed industrial ceramics. Following the war, NTK has succeeded in applying the use of Alumina, technical ceramics, for spark plug isolation. Alumina (Al2O3), as a forerunner of technical ceramics, possessed superior electrical insulation, heat resistance and wear resistance characteristics; thus, it was a most logical choice for the new sintering material.

In 1949, NTK developed sandblasting nozzles and corundit balls with the technical ceramics technology for industrial applications.

Subsequently, NTK had developed metallization and brazing technologies which allowed the attachment of metals to ceramic. These innovations in technologies have led the way to the introduction of the vacuum tube container in 1957.

Today, these technologies are still applied to the technical ceramics. Technical ceramic materials, which are light weight, resistant to acids, resistant to salt and low thermal expansion of coefficient, are being widely used in microwave transmitting casings of satellite communications in space.

In 1958, further refinement of Alumina and improvements in the manufacturing, processing and sintering technologies have led to the successful development of new cutting tools. Cermet cutting tools are ceramic materials with higher reliability.

As described, the span between later 1950´s and early 1960´s was the era for basic ceramic technologies, which prompted the later 1960´s for further technical breakthroughs.